Trailer



Aug. 3 192e. f 1,594,876

- J. H. CLARK TRAILER Filed July 1e. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A @woe/nk@ J. H. CLARK TRAILER Filed July 16. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NUM l HHHIIIIIJI I vwentoz Yio Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

Unir-sn STATES assaut Parana orsi :rAivIEs HARRY CLARK, 'or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TRAILER.

Application led July 16, 1923. Serial No. 651,951.

My invention relates to trailers and like vehicles designed'to be drawn by tractors, trucks and similar self-propelled hauling agencies; and particularly to four wheel 5 trailers of the type wherein theA main load carrying frame is supported by two sub frames located one ateach end ofthe trailer, and each supported from an axle having two wheels at the ends thereof; and which subframes are both capable of swinging movement about vertically arranged axes Vor king bolts arranged one at each endof the main load supporting frame; so that the trailer may be-,drawn in either direction and either end thereof may be regarded as `the front end ofthe vehicle.

'In such trailers it `has heretofore been customary when hauling` the trailer to lock the sub framehaving the rear pair of wheels against rotary movement, the front4 sub frame only being free to swing ,as the directionV `of movement of the hauling agency changes. In such schemes, however, the rear wheels do not track with or follow the front trailer, or trailers, when two nor more are being drawn, as is often the case, do not run around a corner properly whenmaking a right angle turn.

The principal obiect of my invention, therefore, is to provide a trailer of the type referred to and wherein a better tracking of the rear wheelsrelative to` the front wheels is secured; such endv being attained r by leaving both the front and rear sub vframes free to swing as the direction of travel of thehauling agency changes, and by connecting said frames withkone another through flexible connecting means so arranged that swinging movement of the front frame is communicated to the rear subl frame in a; way to cause it to swing in a direction opposite to the movementl of the front frame.

away from the center of a curve alongvwhich wheels in a satisfactory manner; and the This causes the rear wheels to run. out andf secures a more lof trailers of the' general type and class above referred to, all as will hereinafter appear.

The drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification illustrate the pre y `ferred form of my invention; although the same may be embodied in var iousv other forms so long as such modifications come within the scope of the concluding claim, in

which the distinguishing features wherein myinvention consists are particularly point-y ed'out.

In the drawings y y Figure 1 is a viewy showing my improved trailer inside elevationythe load carrying y platform or body being omittedV to better showA the construction and arrangement of various parts thereof. e

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the trailer in plan.

` Figure 3 is a view showing one end of the trailer (assumed to be the front end, although both are alike) in side elevation and upon a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts in plan.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, and wherein -the same reference numerals are employed to designate like thereof, and whereby the `main kframe 13 which supports the platform or load carry- Ving body of my improved trailer is* sup parts in the several views; the numerals 10, 'l 11 designate transversely extending front and rear axles having wheels 12 at the endsV eachof said frames lcomprising oppositely v disposed longitudinally extending side bars 16, and transversely extending bars 17 extending between said longitudinal bars at the ends thereof. i These frame members or bars are preferably channel shaped in crosssection, and the meeting ends thereof are shown as secured together by brackets 18 right angular in form and secured to the bars by rivets or equivalent fastening devices 19.

Supported by and arranged above the sub frames are two annular bearing members or guides 20, 21 shown as right angular in crosswhich make up ksaid frames; it being ap-f preciated that the said bearing members are supported above the planes of the upper sides of thev end'frames and that their4 vertical walls provide cylindrical drum porv tions, and that their upper endsextendinward to form supports for similar bearing members carried bythe main frame 13 of the trailer.

Extending longitudinally of the;` end sub frames are 'channel shaped draft platesI 26, one for each frame the endsv of said plates being secured to theunderl side of thef'upper v horizontal portions of the bearing members 20, 21 at diametrically opposite parts there of as by means of rivetsv27.

The main frame'13 isshown asv made up of two longitudinally extending side-bars 28, 29, and four transversely extending transverse bars 30, 31, 32 and- 33; all preferably channel shaped' in cross Section and all secured together to form a rigidframe structure by means of suitable angle braces 34, and rivets, as will be understood.- The longitudinal and transverse bars of the main frame are arranged approximately directly over the similar bars of the sub frames at the ends of the mainframe, and wooden bars 35, 36 are commonly bolted to the longitudinal main frame bars to---faci'litate the attaching of a suitable platform or' load carrying body to said main frame,fas. willfbeappreciated. f

Carried by the Vmain frameformed` as aforesaid are two annular bearing; members or tracks 37, 38 similar in construction to the bearingmembers 20, 21;: and the lower horizontal portions of which rest, respectively upon the upper horizontal portions of said first described bearing members; TheV upper cylindrical portions of these main frame bearing members preferably extend upward and above thev level of the under side of the main frame as will be understood Y from Figure 3; and said members are' supported` from the main frame by right angular front andy rea-r brackets 39, and by similar side brackets 40,. arranged ninety degrees apart about the circumference of said upper bearingmembers. Y

Extending from front to rear of the upper bearings 37 38 are draft plates. 41, 42

similar to and which lie directly overv thev draft plates of the lower bearings which are carried by the sub frames, and the ends of which are secured to the upper surfaces of the horizontal portions ofsaid upper bearing members. The plates 41, 42- and the the plates 26 `which lie beneath them are provided with central registering holes through which king bolts 43 (see Figure 2) about .which the end frames may swing extend,

and the area of bearing surface about the said bolts is increased, and a stronger construction secured,'by the use of perforated plates-44 securedtothe lower and upper sides of the said draft plates respectively.

The subframes a-revobvijouslyf capable of swinging movement about vertical axles provided by the king bolts 43,A 43; and-a flexible device or means'ris vprovided whereby swinging movement ofthe' front sub frame, being the one which is` connected with the hauling agency through a ,suitable draw" bar co'nnected to the frontj axle through suitable lugs-144, see; Figure 3,V is communicated to the rear sub :frameI in such ay manner as tov cause it .to rotate 'in a direction opposite to the direction.y ofY rotary movement of the front frame. This flexible connectingk def vice, lmay take'. various Vparticular forms; but

ispreferably" made-upy of*A two wire cablesf 45, 46 the front endsof which are connected so. as to receive motion from the front" sub frame,l and which members cross one another at the central portion-of the vehicle andi'the rear ends of which areoperati-vely connected with the rearsub frame sovas'to swing the same in unison with'swinging movement of the'front frame: In the form of my invention illustrated thefront ends of thecables are provided with.l threadedl rods 47 which extend through-anchors 48 having hooks 49, extending into oppositely disposed holes in y the vertical cylindrical portions of the bearing member 20, whereby effective connections. are secured and connections-whereby i the cables may be tightened as they stretch; and similar connections are shown` at. the

rear ends ofthe cables. The` particular manner whereby connectionsy are provided between thefends of the` cables and the sub frames, however, isv of secondary importance, so. long as.Y rotary movement,- of `the front frame is communicated to.' the'rear. frame. as hereinbefore explained.`

`Obviously the cables 45, 46 ,wind1 upon `and unwind from the cylindrical portions. of'the bearing members 20., 21 as the` sub. frames oscillate about the kingbolts 43,; andcurved filling strips 50 are preferably secured to the cylindrical drums of the. bearing members upon opposite sides of the side supporti-ng brackets 24, 25 in order to provide smooth and even surfaces fOr the cables to work upon.

Having thus. described and explained my inventionv I claim and desire. to secure by Letters Patent l .In a trailer rof the class `described" having a main load supporting-frame., front and rearl axles adapted vto swing; about vertical axes adjacent` the front and rear ends of the vehicle; front and rear sub frames substantially rectangular in form supported one by each of said axles; two annular bearing members right angular in cross section and arranced to provide vertically disposed cylindrical` portions, and horizontal bearing surfaces at the upper ends `of said oylindrical portions, said annular bearing members being carried by and arranged above said sub frames and adapted to cooperate with other bearing members located one adjacent each end of the main frame of the trailer; and two flexible members the.

forward ends of which are secured to the cylindrical portion of the bearing member of the front sub frame and are adapted to wind upon and to unwind therefrom, and which iexible members cross one another and the rear ends of which are secured to the cylindrical portion of the bearing member of the rear sub frame and are adapted to wind upon and to unwind therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speoication this 11th day of July, 1923.

JAMES HARRY CLARK. 

